Do Dentists and Botox Belong Together?

In our most recent survey, we asked: should cosmetic dentists be offering non-dental cosmetic procedures such as Botox injections? The slight majority of dentists felt dentists are licensed medical professionals, fully capable of safely offering such simple services. The remainder think dentists ought to focus on healthy teeth and gums, not Botox or Restylane.

+Julie Frey is the Editor of TheWealthyDentist.com blog. She has dedicated her career to Internet marketing and communications, working side-by-side with dental marketing guru Jim Du Molin since 2006. She has a degree in Linguistics from Stanford University, has a passion for language and writing, and lives in San Francisco.

Dr. Ken

While dentists DO focus on healthy teeth and gums, why NOT offer to patients the benefits of a healthy appearance. After all, isn’t that what bleaching, veneers, etc. all about? With proper training, there is NO valid reason DDS or DMD shouldn’t be allowed to administer Botox and Restylane.

People who have not been to Dental or Med school are doing it daily as assistants or nurses in a day spa!

Dee

I’ve seen too many dental procedures “rushed” because of lack of time, either from added emergencies to the schedule or just trying to squeeze as many procedures into a day as possible. These people went into dentistry with the intent to heal…many patients are already concerned about paying high prices for what may be “unnecessary” procedures. By offering Botox, the practice may reinforce that speculation by many.

Nathan Bricknell

I would like to know which professional bodies are allowed to administer botox in Australia?

http://botox-training.blogspot.com/ Aleks@Botox information

Great info i love this site. It’s been really helpful. I’ve used.

Dr. Ann

I am surprised it hasnt’ been mentioned that a critical part of our education is spending many hours in gross anatomy tracing nerves, veins, arteries and muscles of the entire head and neck, as well as the rest of the body. Who better knows the head and neck than MD’s, DMD’s or DDS’s? I feel we are the most qualified and I would rather have someone with that realm of education delivering Botox injections than some assistant who was given a short course on how to place the injections.

Dr. Roberts

Some of the arguments I’m reading here against dentists administering botox are utterly baseless.

The very fact that oral surgeons are administering Botox Cosmetic categorically eliminates the question of whether or not it falls within the scope of dentistry. Let’s get something straight here: oral surgeons are dentists. They are dentists who have specialized in oral and maxillofacial surgery–a specialty of dentistry. They are not physicians, they are not plastic surgeons, they are not dermatologists, nor do they even practice medicine. Rather, they practice dentistry. If it has been determined that facial cosmetics falls within the scope of dentistry, then everyone with a DDS or DMD after his/her name and a dental license should be considered eligible to administer Botox for cosmetic treatment when in possession of proper training. (A four year oral surgery residency is not necessary, as has been shown by our counterparts in the medical profession who have their meagerly-trained nurses and physician-assistants giving the injections).

Dentistry has already expanded itself into areas of treatment that are clearly not dental-related; can any of you honestly say that nose-jobs and facelifts should be considered a part of dentistry? If oral surgeons can perform these procedures, then general dentists should be able to perform exceedingly simple tasks like injecting Botox and Restylane for treatments that are cosmetic in nature.

Patti Depaola

I have returned home from a consultation from an oral surgeon for posterior extractions prescribed by a prosthodontist. There was no dentist chair instead I was asked to sit on a medical table & examined with a floor lamp. The room was filled with cosmetic info on skin spot treatments & wrinkle filler injections along with before & after photos. I have never witnessed this in my prosthodontist’s office or any other dentist’s office. My prosthodontist has a treatment plan but the oral surgeon was suggesting implants, CAT scans & the correct placement of a reconstruction. I told him that was why I was seeing a prosthodontist, a specialist in the proper placement of teeth harmonious with the jaw structure, muscle and patterns that you move the teeth with. The oral surgeon raised his voice & I think became very angry. The quoted $74.00 consultation fee was raised to over $180.00. I was told I used too much his time. I never got to ask any of my concerns, antibiotics since I am to be pre-medicated due to prior septic shock with renal & respiatory failure on life support, pain treatment or bone grafts. The oral surgeon replied, “Bone grafts?” “Bone grafts are for implants.” I thought oral surgery was a distinguished higher form of dentistry but I am sickened & disgusted. Today I am lucky to be alive after septic shock from bad dentistry & I refuse to be orally operated on by an angry oral surgeon. Tho I have been dentally disfigured since January 2009 I wrote a check for the quoted consultation fee of $74.00 & I will look elsewhere for my extractions. I am sickened & disgusted.

Patti Depaola

Since my last visit to this site I have seen another DDS. In Illinois DDSTRY second opinions appear to be frowned upon. A patient becomes labeled as “difficult” maybe even “hostile.” Is it possible for a DDSTRY patient to be “blackballed?”

All were decayed under the crowns & bridgework with at least 3 abscesses. One extracted molar had an abscess attached to it. The Oral Surgeon stated they were the most difficult teeth he has to remove. He also said he could’nt imagine my pain. My DDS states if my extractions were performed by anyone other than an Oral Surgeon my jaw could’ve been broke.

Before this no DDS would work on me or treat the abscesses knowing I survived septic shock from a prior untreated molar unless I agreed to another recon or implants. One DDS wanted $20,000.00 for both a 3 & 4 unit bridge.

Today it appears easier for a woman to have both her breasts removed than extract decayed teeth infecting her body.

My Oral Surgeon says I made the right decision & another recon would’ve been unsuccessful.

After an unsuccessful recon my old DDS said he could successfully recon me & quarantee it twice as long as this $30,000.00 recon (my medical bills from septic shock amounted to over $250,000.00, I went on to have all my internal organs relocate outside my body with ileus, strictures, adhesions & intra abdominal abscess..I was vomitting my own feces). His quarantee added up to 8 yrs… less than the life expectancy of just 1 crown.

It’s been my experience that a DDS would prefer a patient die rather than honor a free replacement guarantee.

Since January my physician has been left to RX antibiotics fearing septicemia again.

One Prostho told me an Oral Surgeon would come to his office to do the extractions. The Prostho also set up a dental plan loan at $800.00 a month. When I checked the “Oral Surgeon’s” licensure I found him to be a Periodontist. Questioning his capabilities he backed out of the procedure & appeared insulted.

I was told my procedure would be complete in a month. 6 weeks past & I heard nothing but I received a bill for $800.00..My first monthly installment. Luckily I was told the perio would not extract my teeth.

I was then referrd to a licensed Oral Surgeon & he examined me while seated on a table with a floor lamp. He stated he could’nt give a full consult because he never received a treatment plan nor the numbers of the teeth to be removed. He charged me three times the quoted consult fee. He never suggested a panorex but knowing I had no med insurance he RX’d 2 CT scans & a MRSA test.

He told me he would consult with me when all test results were reported back to him along with my full medical history & all hospital reports since 2004. He asked if I ever sued a DR before. He told me not to touch anything or I’d infect his office. (I survived septic shock in 2004, there was no reason to treat me as a pariah). I had a pre-op exam clearing me for oral surgery on 2/3/2009. He ran room to room washing his hands with hand sanitizer. I pray his other rooms have DDS’s chairs.

Tho he states he never received a treatment plan nor the numbers of the teeth to be extracted he charged me $184.00 instead of the quoted $74.00 consultation fee.

I paid the quoted $74.00 fee & now he is threatening to take me to court. He knowingly & admittedly states he never recieved a treatment plan nor the numbers of the teeth to be extracted. The appointment should’ve been immediately cancelled & rescheduled till he found himself professionally informed. I think my money should be refunded.

The recommending prostho who was billing me $800.00 a month took $150.00. I was responsible for the $800.00 a month loan till the Prostho returned the money 4 months later.

Everyone is in awe of my immediate dentures and can’t imagine what my permanent dentures will look like.

This dental practice and lab obviously have a “GIFT.”

http://bluewaterplasticsurgery.com steven j . clark m.d, d.m.d

I AM A BOARD CERTIFIED PLASTIC SURGEON IN SOLO PRIVATE PRACTICE. MY PRACTICE IS DEDICATED TO 90%COSMETIC SURGERY OF THE FACE AND BODY. I HAVE BOTH MEDICAL AND DENTAL DEGREES AND HAVE COMPLETED RESIDENCIES IN ORAL MAXILLOFACIAL SURGERY, GENERAL SURGERY, PLASTIC SURGERY. BASED ON THIS I FEEL I CAN SPEAK TO THIS TOPIC. ANY PROCEDURE PREFORMED MUST BE BASED ON PROPER UNDERSTANDING OF THE ANATOMY,MATERIAL[BOTOX VS FILLER] AND TRAINING RELATED TO THE TECHNIQUE.SHOULD ANY MEDICAL SPECIALTY QUALIFY TO PREFORM COSMETIC SURGERY? SHOULD OB-GYN PREFORM LIPOSUCTION OR INJECT FILLERS IN A PATIENTS NASOLABIAL FOLD? IT COMES DOWN TO PROPER TRAINING! WHO KNOWS HEAD AND NECK ANATOMY BETTER THEN DENTISTS/ORAL SURGEONS. INJECTION TECHNIQUE IS SOMETHING WE LEARN VERY EARLY IN DENTAL SCHOOL.

Patti Depaola

NO! Botox, & wrinkle fillers should not be done in a dentists office. Maybe that’s why I was examined for extractions in a room filled with before & after botox & wrinkle filler pictures while sitting on a table with a floor lamp. There was no dentist chair in the room. Today some dentists are looking for a quicker type of sedation. Preferably quick to leave the bodies system & in pill form. Stay awake & check your dentists licensure. Your dentist may be licensed to practice dentistry but unlicensed to administer sedation or to have or write control substance prescriptions. Many dentists are practicing while their licenses are suspended. Check your dentist thru your states department of professional regulations.

raul joseps

After four years of dental education and a multitude years in practice, I’m still a dentist. With the same education and lessor experience in the field of patient treatment, the bufoon down the street is a REAL DOCTOR. He is allowed to treat head to toe and all points between, but my experience and perceived “mediocre education” restricts me to the microcosm of the mouth. A health professional who has equal qualifications and training should be permitted to perform any elected procedure. Can’t wait till my veterinarian offers liposuction.

Michele Arnold, DDS

Hello,

I am a licensed dentist in the state of Illinois. I was recently certified to inject Botox for dental purposes. However I have been asked numerous times if I could host a “Botox Party” outside the office. During the process of the course we were informed to only administer Botox for dental purposes. Are there some other licenses or certifications I need to obtain in order to fullfil these request for the cosmetic outcome? Thank you.

Geri

I have found it very amusing that patients will argue and carry on about having to make a co-payment for covered, dentally necessary procedures. We have all heard it: “My insurance pays for everything!” Yet, those same patients will gladly shell out in the upwards of $500 to $800 for Botox/Juvederm treatments. It is no wonder that with the squeezing of payments to medically necessary procedures that practitioners are seeking additional aspects to their practice to satisfy their patients and make up for the short-fall.

Howard Katz

If specialized and unspoecialized MD’s are comfortable employing RN’s who have zero training in facial anatomy and masticatory diseases to inject Botox on their behalf in their offices, then they should have no objection to the profession most trained, dentists, doing these procedures. Also, it is close to impossible having someone untrained in smile esthetics use injectible fillers around the mouth and to expect a natural esthetically pleasing outcome.

Dental Boards dont make the rules they enforce the rules.It is the politicians that make the rules on behalf of lobbyists representing MD’s who do not want to have dentists participate in this lucrative field.This has nothing to do with training and skill. If it did, ONLY THE DENTISTS WOULD BE DOING THESE PROCEDURES. PRIOR TO THE USE OF THESE MATERIALS, MD’S AND RN,S WERE NOT ROUTINELY INJECTING IN THE MOUTH AND FACE.

http://rossdental Barton Ross, DDS

Non-surgical Treatment of the Peri-oral Soft Tissues and TMJ / TMD Symptoms- The Rationale For the Use of Botox and Facial Fillers by General Dentists The appearance and function of the peri-oral soft tissues is critical to the preservation and appearance of the dentition. Many dental restorative and cases are enhanced and benefit from treatment of the peri-oral soft tissues with the proper utilization of facial fillers and Botox (neurotoxin). Restoring volume with facial fillers to the lips, philtrum, nasolabial and labiomental folds and the cheeks and “jaw line” are often necessary to produce the optimal restorative esthetic result for many denture and implant patients as well as middle-aged and senior patients who undergo routine general dental restorative treatment. Non-surgical treatment of a “gummy smile” is simply accomplished with a very small dose of Botox at each levator labii superioris muscle. Treatment of the damaging and painful effects of TMJ/TMD symptoms such as excessively worn dentition and damaged periodontium, derangements of the TMJ capsular components both hard and soft, muscular pain of the muscles of mastication and associated headaches, and persistent fractures of dental restorations are successfully reduced and even eliminated with the utilization of Botox treatment of the masseter and/or temporalis muscles. And of course, rhytids (wrinkles and facial “lines”) of the peri-oral draping soft tissues are reduced with Botox treatment. Botox and facial filler treatments are temporary due to the nature of their physiologic properties. How much daily familiarity do gynecologists and internists have regarding head and neck anatomy? How much training and experience in creating beauty, balance and proportion do they receive? How familiar are these doctors in effectively anesthetizing the facial region on a customary basis? In there daily practice routines, how concerned with the cosmetic appearance of their patients are these estimable physicians? Yet, by mere possession of their medical licenses, they are deemed suitable and appropriate to provide Botox and facial filler treatments to their patients and with no additional training requirements necessary. General dentists are very knowledgeable in head and neck anatomy and are accomplished and adept in surgical and non-surgical procedures. They possess exceptional skills to achieve an excellent cosmetic and restorative result by virtue of training and a highly developed appreciation and sense of beauty, balance and proportion. Attending to the enhancement and treatment of the peri-oral soft tissues is well within the domain of the general dentist. The properly general dentist is very well-suited to become an expert facial rejuvenation practitioner.

Barton P. Ross, D.D.S. Copyright 2009 All rights reserved

Dr A Singh [BChD]

If a medical doctor or a dentist holds the diploma for placing botox then it should suffice (if the diploma is recognised by the countrys health regulators). The head and neck anatomy is done extensivley in dentistry, furthermore if maxillo-facial and oral surgery is a direct branch of dentistry then placing botox is mild in comparison. Local anaesthesia on the face is used when doing extra-oral approaches to internal fracture reductions in facial regions. My only qualm is when a practioner feels he is unable to handle the procedure and then goes ahead with it. If one feels they cannot handle more complex procedures then one should refer to a specialist. This is almost always how the heirarchy of medicine goes. Im pretty sure my dental colleagues in US and around the world would agree?

Mark Pike DMD

I find it ludicrous that a dentist can be trained legally to insert an IV cannula into a vein in someones arm or hand and administer drugs that can cause death,can and do give IM (intramuscular)injections of antibiotics, some have received training to go on to be anesthesiologists, yet the medical profession has their panties in a bunch over a dentist placing a protein sub-dermal (under the skin). Botox is not a irreversible procedure such as cosmetic surgery. Medicine allows nurses, PA’s and numerous other ancillaries to inject botox under supervision. This means they are on the premises not in the room. Medicine knows that if the dental profession starts giving botox, patients will gladly have done in the dental setting rather than in the Plastic Surgeons office.

Hgj

You are really fu*k up …

Drlynelle

My dental office was next to a clinic of cosmetic surgery. The plastic surgeon asked me if I would do the Botox and dermal filler treatments for his clients. Of course it came naturally. I have been providing these services since 1999 and currently see approximately 10 people for botox and Juvederm.

Drlynelle

10 people a week that is..

Patti Depaola

Last week a Blue Island Illinois teenager died of sepsis due to a root canal.

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